[Simultaneous sorption of aqueous phenanthrene and phosphate onto bentonites modified with AlCl3 and CTMAB]

Inorganic-organic bentonites (Al-CTMAB-Bent) were synthesized by modifying bentonites with AlCl3 and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTMAB). Simultaneous sorption of aqueous phenanthrene and phosphate onto Al-CTMAB-Bent were examined. Removal rates of phenanthrene and phosphate from water are 96.3% and 90.2%, respectively, at their respective initial concentrations of 1 mg/L and 5 mg/L when the added amount of Al-CTMAB-Bent was 1.25 g/L. The residual turbidity of Al-CTMAB-Bent suspension decreased 81.4% comparing to that of organobentonite suspension after 1 hour settlement. Thus inorganic-organic bentonite can be used to treat wastewater containing both organic pollutants and phosphate.